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Wayne County officials continue to grapple with what to do about the unfinished jail on Gratiot in Detroit, but could a sale to Dan Gilbert still be a possibility, one that includes the Guardian Building or other county properties?

Richard Kaufman, Wayne County's deputy CEO, isn't ruling much out, and he is confirming that Gilbert's people have shown interest in the Guardian Building, the seat of county government, as well as the jail site. But a package deal that includes both the Guardian and jail has not been discussed, formally or informally, he said Friday.

The county, however, would be open to a deal at the right price, although it's not clear what that would be. With the state treasurer announcing on Friday a review of its finances, Wayne County needs all the help in the form of cash it can get, and officials have said that a sale of the Guardian — the county is currently seeking a brokerage firm — would need to cover the more than $65 million owed on acquiring the Guardian and renovations.

"There has been discussion where they have indicated an interest in the Guardian Building and other properties that the county owns, but again, the county has made it clear and they understand, that we need the sale of any of our properties to be part of a bigger solution," Kaufman said. "We are willing to consider selling any and all county assets if it's a solution to some of our bigger problems."

One of the major problems in need of a solution is the jail site, which sits at a key entry point to Detroit's burgeoning downtown and not too far from some of the more than 70 properties Gilbert, the billionaire founder of Quicken Loans, owns or controls. The jail site, where construction was stopped two years ago this month, is costing the county $1.2 million each month, which is on top of the $151 million spent to build it.

The county, which is grappling with an underfunded pension system and an estimated $52-million structural deficit, previously received an offer from Gilbert for $20 million for the jail site, but officials determined that was too low. Gilbert and his companies, however, are still focused on what may happen there. The site is in the shadow of Greektown Casino-Hotel, which Gilbert's Rock Gaming acquired in 2013.

"We remain convinced the Wayne County jail site should be redeveloped for an alternative use that is more aligned with an increasingly vibrant downtown Detroit, and we are happy to explore options with the county in that regard," Matt Cullen, president and CEO of Gilbert's Rock Ventures, said in an e-mail.

Kaufman, who cautioned that there has been no change in the offer on the jail site, said it will take at least six months before a decision can be reached on what to do about the stalled jail, which was originally pitched as a way to save money through consolidating the county's three jails. He said the county cannot wait longer than a year to make a decision. A study is under way to consider renovations at the jail facilities and Frank Murphy Hall of Justice. Kaufman said renovations are "definitely a viable option."

After all, finishing the jail at its current location would cost an additional $300 million, he said.

Kaufman even left the door open on another option that had been previously rejected by the county commission — moving jail and court facilities to the former Mound Road Correctional Facility.

"Given that we don't have any clear solution to the problem now, we're willing to talk about all solutions," Kaufman said.

Wayne County Sheriff's Cpl. Brian Earle, president of the Wayne County Deputy Sheriff's Association, previously evaluated a move to the Mound Road facility, which is on Detroit's east side. He highlighted numerous challenges, affecting everything from feeding the inmates to court security, as aspects of a move that would need to be resolved.

But on Friday, he noted some positives if the facility were to be updated and expanded properly, and he suggested the union be included in any discussions if Mound Road becomes a serious possibility.

"It has to be safe for my members. It has to be safe for the inmates," Earle said, noting the attraction of, among other things, free parking at a location away from downtown. "That property would probably be really good for us."